Asides from the horsepower train, is there any other way to identify an IS300 from 350 of the same year. There is a lot of badging going on where I live and I am afraid, I might not be able to test-drive for a long time or a free way to know which is the more powerful car.

Essentially wouldn't love to buy a badged 350 F-sport. I have seen 250s with the F-Sport badged as a 350 but those are easy to spot unlike the 300 which has way more power

 

Run the VIN number if you're serious about buying one...

 

For the original 3IS, there's no visual difference between 300 and 350 except for the wheels. And if you are looking at an F Sport, you'd have to look at the badge on the back. They have the same wheels and same bodywork.

For 2021 and up, in the US, the IS 350 is available only as an F Sport. So it'll be much easier to tell them apart, in the US, at least. In Canada and other places, IS 300 F Sport models are still available.

Also, you could look under the hood. I think the 250 would have a black engine cover, for example. The only time it would get tricky is on the 300 AWD, since it has the same engine as the 350.

 

Another way to tell is open the hood, look at the top of the hood (where the latch is), there should be a sticker. If you see 2GR-FSE / 2GR-FKS, it's the 3.5L V6. Most people would not think to falsify that sticker because they don't know about it. But like arentz said, the difference between the 350 and 300 AWD is subtle as they share the same engine.

 

That could still be an IS300 AWD.

 

350 had Sport S+ and in Canada at least, mostly AVS, so having the actuators on the shocks towers is a dead giveaway (might be only the 350 DHP in US though)

Aside from that, the actual VIN would tell you exactly what it is.

 

350 DHP didn't exist prior to the refresh for 2021, so I am pretty sure 350 F Sport came standard with Sport S+ (non F-Sport models would not have it).

 

Ah, thanks for that clarification, I wasn't sure when they appeared!
So S+ and AVS could be a 350 F-Sport indicator.

 

thank you. Will do this then

 

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/vindecoder.php

Works well enough, although it's saying my car has two 12V outlets (there is only one in the center console).